Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 248: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the priorities that his Department places on catchment areas or feeder schools in determining placements for secondary education facilities; if it is his Department or the board of management of such schools that determine feeder schools and prioritise them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45212/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Forward Planning Section of my Department utilises the latest in GIS technology to assist in planning school requirements in the future. The Geographical Information System contains information on all schools in the country, primary and post primary level, geo-coded to their location. The information is then linked to the relevant demographic information for those areas - typically the demographic information will be from the Central Statistic's Office Census data, the General Registrar of Births, the Department of Social and Family Affairs, An Post's Geo-directory and information supplied by Local Authorities through Development Plans.

Growth projection figures are applied to the existing population with a view to assessing future requirements and areas of highest growth at primary and post-primary level. The extent to which pupils transfer from primary feeder schools to the relevant post-primary centres is a significant factor in determining the requirement for post-primary places in an area. The system of the designation of primary feeder schools was largely established through consultation ahead of the introduction of the free post-primary education scheme in the late 1960s.